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Hi all was such a nice day I decided to bring out my Rollo tractors for a photo shoot so here they are

Unfortunately a few could not make it, but it was a good day.

A few more bits painted or in the process of, today. Some photo's for The Showman's delectation. Dash and ammeter panel fitted. Finger marks will be removed. Fender cleaned up. Underneath of fender with two coats of red oxide and drying in the sun.

Hi All A very strawy ploughing match Called the Highlands of Fife,Started in the bygone days in the times of the horse stopped in 1939 restarted in 2009 as has gone from strength to strength .Match was held Saturday 7 Th March eighty tractors took part three pair of horses and for the first time in history three horticultural tractors took part.Very strawy but we were all the same ,it just made it a little bit harder Judging time again have fun Judge now It has taken three years to get a place in this event, the people were very impressed with the tractors and the ploughs in fact I was asked to plough a couple of gardens

I am having a quick cuppa in between working on the Bolens 800. At last I got around to fitting the anmeter gauge this morning as well as greasing up all the nipples. Battery gone flat though..... Got the battery on a trickle charger so hope that will cure that little problem. Everything seem to be ok as everything moves freely and the gears engages where they should. I am now going to order some belts for this as the old ones are a wee bit frayed. Also taken some better photos too.

Some of you may remember me acquiring the engine for bendy from a Toro greensmaster mower at Mallory park a year ago. It was well used and cheap at £50... It started and runs ok, but it's clear it needs some attention due to the oil burned and dripped on the floor. When I pulled the head last year it looked like this! And upon changing the oil I got this! So armed with the knowledge it runs ok, but is a little tired I ordered a rebuild kit from the states. It was better value than from the UK - even including shipping and tax. I basically got everything but the valves. So here's the thread, with the engine starting on the bench With tinwork and ancillaries removed Flywheel removed - after make a small puller And head.... It's not got any better since I last checked!

Thanks Dave. It has been fascinating uncovering the age of this tractor, it has got me thinking about the rest of my collection Iain

Right then, being a 1976 engine would make your tractor a 1977.

Here you go, First instalment The piston and rings look reasonable, but closer inspection shows heavy scoring and erosion due to being coked up. I thought it was oil ring stuck to the plug, but apparently not. From the bottom end, some light scoring on the big end journal. It's 4 thou out of round and 6 thou out at its maximum. Just within acceptable tolerances for what I'll be using it for. Pic shows cam to left and balance gear to right, which will be coming out. I dislike the rattle from it!

One of the Red Square Wheel Horse members Bowtieguy (Frank Rufenacht) hooked me up with a very nice Wheel Horse D series. I bought his D-160 with the kohler single cyinder. The old girl was well cared for and not abused in any fashion and seems to have a lot of life in her. The best part about the tractor is that it seems to be 100 percent unmolested and in a unrestored state, and other than a bad axle bearing (note picture from the rear) and the need for fresh fluids the tractor seems sound. Apparently Frank, his family, and I have a commonality, we hail from Switzerland. Frank's family has been here in the states for quite some time, at least one generation, but I came over on the boat, well it was actually a 1964 Constellation Comet, but I was born not far from the Rufenacht ancestral home of Rufenacht, Switzerland.

I'm not jealous. Not one little bit jealous.

Given by your first guess, your prize is probably a slap from Pam

Iain, I got a reply from my engine guy :D H also posted a thread over at the GTTalk forums as well: http://gardentractortalk.com/forums/topic/43247-how-old-is-my-tecumseh-engine/

Yep, that's my old 6x6.. I agree Andrew, it would be nice if someone in the "family" bought it..

Hi Rob, welcome to MOM, happy you like it here.. You did well, managing to buy a Bolens before Andrew (Triumph66) buys them all There are plenty of great Bolens guys here to help you out with advice

Hi & Welcome. I saw that bolens on ebay??? Thought about it, but has I have 4, a house, baby & angry woman if I buy any more

Welcome to MOM Robdono . Hiding tractors from the Mrs is a real problem for a lot of us , I just bought another on Friday but had to sneak it in the back door , it was like a military operation , she ain't found it yet , but she will. Good luck

Just to say that the Bolens bug have bitten me again; a symptom that Chris and Iain knows only too well! I am in the process of acquiring a 1963 Bolens 800 with a mowing deck attached to it. It's in really good condition and have been sympathetically restored a few years ago. I just need to add some detailing at some point and buy some drive belts. Photos to follow once it's safely in my care. Cheers for now.

They were all the same. Unfortunately my main computer is 'down' with a failed CPU cooler, so I don't have access to my pics. However I did find one on eBay here in the states. Good thing is that it gives the center to center dimension of the mounting holes, That should give you enough to make your own if you are so inclined. http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bolens-Trailer-Hitch-/121590325957?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item1c4f5922c5

Andrew, the hitch for the 800 is identical to the one you have on the 1254. I believe all tubframes use the same hitch with the exception of the 600 where the hitch is cast into the axle.

The RAM would be great done to the same standard. I would suggest buying or making a tow hitch for the 800 as it appears to be the only thing missing.

I took a quick picture of the engine number. The spec number is hard to read but the serial number is clear. From my reading that is the 345 day of 1976, which is consistent with the age of the tractor. Iain

I agree. A very nice machine.

I didn't realise how good that 800 was until I studied your latest pictures, it is fantastic. Iain

I bet you have a big barn to store that awesome collection. Some beautiful machines you have

Awesome collection

Nice collection and great vid

Fantastic line up, great collection. Iain

Looking good and great progress, it is really coming together. I'm with Mr Showman, no pictures means that it didn't happen Iain

got mine kev thanks

Hi robdono welcome to this great site and looking forward to seeing yor projects in the flesh mate are you going to any shows this year ? James

Ahh sooty vans once did a joke eBay listing on my mates Bedford rascal... I'll only race you for wheel horses, and then DJ will no doubt beat me to them

Bit late to this thread but welcome Rob

Rob, there appear to be quite a few Bolens for sale around the North from time to time; so you are in a prime spot to get 'em. Keep our posted with your project. Cheers

Got mine too thanks Kev, roll on the show, it was such a great time last year

It is indeed

Mark will gift wrap and send you the gunk from the end of the sump plug Chris

Another vote for all terrain tyres here, been using them for years now, they even gave me discount when I bought the tyres and tubes for the 6x6

Iain has one of these

Its the sump drain plug ?

I drove it around Ian's garden last summer; great fun. Maybe someone on here wil buy it?

She's a beauty , I haver never driven a D200 but would love to have a go of one. Maybe one day will get to own one. Hoping to visit Switzerland one day too

If yours is an 850 tube frame then it was made between 1966 to 69 powered by an Wisconsin 8 1/4 HP engine (S- 8D) as shown in your photos. It had a high/low range lever and diff lock with 3 gears.

Thanks Kev got mine and I will be there

Great weather up here today so time for some painting

Don't mess with The Showman otherwise you might wake up with a Å´heel Horse Å´heel on your bed....

One of Pam's chocolate cakes

Got my form the other day, thanks Kev, just got to work out what to bring...

I collected the Bolens this afternoon. Here's a photo, albeit a poor one, of the tractor on the back of my pickup. I will take some photos when I unload it in the next few days.